New Media Server-Mac or PC

djprovost

I need to build a new media server for an upcoming production. My current setup is a MacPro with Isadora Core. DVI out -Triple head Matrox- to the projectors. The projector edge blending is kind of a pain as I am using alpha masks inside Izzy with black faded shapes of "U" and "L" and am using the contrast adjust to dim down the overlap.

I am curious should I try and replicate the current system or build something new. Matrox has a graphic card that seems to do everything the triple head does and makes the calculations for the edge blending but it only works on PC. (I know I can "boot camp" it on a Mac but I am not that interested in doing that) The brand new MacPros don't have DVI outputs only the thunderbolt outputs so if I go with Mac I will need to by adapters.

I realize that if I go with a PC I would not be able to use the "Core" functions but I hardly ever use the "Core" actors anyhow.

I would love to know what others are using or if you could build a new system what you would build. Thanks everyone.

mark

Dear DJProvost,

I think you can go with the PC, with these caveats:

1) Performance is much better with WMV/AVI movies than with Quicktime Movies. These movies are however limited by these factors:

They can't play backwards
Scrubbbing them (using the position input) is very glitchy

These are limitations of the Windows OS "DirectShow" system.

If you're just doing standard playback, these factors aren't an issue. But I wanted to mention it.

Regarding the CI actors, FreeFrameGL support is coming very soon, along with a host of new features. That will give you the performance of the CI actors on Windows.

So, with that in mind, I would say you can work on a PC.

Best Wishes,

Mark